Today we reviewed the 6 pins we've been covering and did a lot of Ogoshi practice. I think I'm beginning to understand the kuzushi for this one now and I'm able to do a throw in one continuous motion now instead of stopping halfway through.

Today was a particularly fun lesson. We started with Tai Otoshi and followed up with our six pins. Then we covered chokes (Okuri Eri Jime and Hadaka Jime) from a kneeling position, which left my throat sore.

Finally in preparation for randori, we did a kind of sparring where the goal is to just grab the opponent's gi and unbalance them without throwing them. I wasn't very good at it but it was a lot of fun to do. Hopefully I get better with practice and get less predictable.

Good stuff Leo! Check out Grip Like a world Champion by Jimmy Pedro. Gripping is really overlooked in gi grappling, but it is one of the most crucial aspects. In Jufo the person who gets the grip they want first usually throws their opponent.

Learn to switch grips quickly and really work for the grip you want. Watch gripping videos by Jimmy Pedro and Rhadi Ferguson on youtube.

Today we did a quick review of Osoto-Gari and Tai-Otoshi. Also, I found out that I'm falling incorrectly. I angle myself to the side, making it hard for someone to throw me during practice, it made the falls more painful too.

I finally understand what the hand movement is supposed to be for Tai-Otoshi, it was awkward to push out away from my body at first before pulling down but after a few attempts I managed to to one good throw. It felt really light and easy when I did the arm movement correctly, it was quite a different sensation from before.

Also, I've noticed that Osoto-Gari is much more comfortable now. I feel much more stable when doing it than when I first started, so much so that it surprised me how stable I felt doing the throw.

Had my first grading today. It involved helping out with teaching the childrens' class by doing demos and explaining techniques.

Later I learned Kosoto Gari briefly before my "formal" exam in front of one of the school's black belts. We were asked to demonstrate all of the throws we've learned as well as every pin we know. I did well on almost all of the throws except Tai Otoshi, which I had to redo twice.